ix.] THE SHORT REIN. 95 



of his falling backward chastisement usually ceases then. 

 In such a case quit the reins, lay hold of the mane with 

 both hands, ply both spurs, even while the horse is on his 

 hind legs, and the moment he flies from them, the reins 

 are seized in the mode to be used most powerfully 

 without requiring any adjustment. If the horse will not 

 answer the spur, with the left hand hold the mane, and 

 with the right ply the whip under the flank even when he 

 is on his hind legs. 



The reins should never be tied in hunting, or in Should not 



be used in 



swimming a horse, since, by catching across the neck, Bunting, r 



swimming 



they act like a bearing rein, and oblige the horse to carry a 

 his head up and his nose in. In hunting this would 

 bring his hind legs on his fences, and oblige him to leap 

 from the top of his banks and to land all fours, instead of 

 extending himself and letting himself down gently. In 

 swimming it obliges him to keep his whole head and neck 

 out of water ; I very nearly drowned a horse in this way 

 in the Serpentine. 



For common riding the objection is that you cannot Objection 



